Debt-hungry China Inc fuels local banks' takeover of Asia bond league tables

Chinese banks have for the first time claimed the top spots for Asian bond market underwriting, on the back of a booming local corporate bond market and increased funding needs of companies in the world's second-largest economy.

China has hosted the world's biggest corporate debt market since 2014, and local banks are making hay while regulatory restrictions limit the ability of foreign rivals to compete.

Bank of China, China Construction Bank and Commercial Bank of China, CITIC Securities and Agricultural Bank of China now sit at the top of the Debt Capital Market league table for Asia Pacific excluding Japan for the year to date, Reuters data show.